Originally posted by john9001
gold is like anything else, it's only worth what someone will pay for it.
You left out something here. What will they use to pay you for that gold?? Answer, paper money(unless you want to accept coins like pennies and quarters or such). Yep gold really showed up well there.
What is gold really worth?? However much paper fiat of what ever governmental entity you are willing to accept.
Way back when, I watched when the US govt. decided to loosen the ownership of gold. The price shot up to $1000.00. Then folks decided they wouldn't pay that much for it and the market in gold crashed down to about $300.00 or so. It still is worth only what someone will give in paper money for it, but only after both sides agree that the exchange is equitable.
Gold, like paper money has limited intrinsic value. It is only worth what you are willing to give or sacrifice for it. In the event of some devastating event that tears down the economies of the world the only thinkgs of value will be those things that will allow you to survive. Thinking that some kind of money will be worth anything is a pipedream as barter will be the rule of the day.